Cong takes `serious` note of cross-voting in AP

The Congress party has taken
a "serious" note of the alleged cross-voting in the
legislative council polls by the party MLAs loyal to former MP
Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, senior leaders from state said on Friday.

Hyderabad: The Congress party has taken
a "serious" note of the alleged cross-voting in the
legislative council polls by the party MLAs loyal to former MP
Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, senior leaders from state said on Friday.

"The MLAs of Jagan group tried to scuttle victory of
the party candidate. But we won because of the timely
intervention of our Chief Minister (during polling). We will
emerge victorious in the coming local body elections and also
in by-elections to assembly and Lok Sabha," Health Minister
D L Ravindra Reddy, a known critic of Jagan Mohan Reddy, said.
The alleged cross-voting by the MLAs loyal to Jagan
made victory of the party candidate Mohammad Jani very
difficult though he scraped through but only on the basis of
the second preference votes held yesterday.

Minority Affairs minister Mohammad Ahmadulla, who
hails from Jagan`s native Kadapa district, said the matter of
cross-voting by the Jagan loyalists would be brought to the
notice of the party high command.

"They tried to backstab Mohammad Jani. God will not
forgive them. I hope good sense will prevail upon them in
future. We will definitely take this to the notice of the high
command," he said.

Noting that "they" (MLAs loyal to Jagan) tried to
defeat a minority candidate, state Congress president D
Srinivas said it shows how much "love" and "concern" they had
for the minorities.

"It is very very unfortunate that some MLAs voted
against the party directive. The party takes a serious view of
this. Their action shows how much love and concern they have
for minorities. I hope they will repent their behaviour," he
said.
Congress MLC Husain Dalwai asked the House if the
government would consider the fishermen community for separate
compensation.

Dalwai said that though scientists had assured that the
project would cause no harm to marine life and fishing
business, the government should consider giving separate
compensation to the fishermen in the area.

Pawar said fishermen too were eligible for compensation
and the government would consider a separate package for them
if needed.

Altogether, 2,335 people are eligible for compensation of
which 131 have received the money totalling Rs 1.11 crore so
far, he said.